Unit 16. Historical places

Unit: 16
Historical Places
A. READING

Look at these pictures and answer the questions.



Look at these pictures and answer the questions.
1. Can you name the pictures above?
2. Is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a historical place?
3. What do you know about this place?
Answers:
1. Can you name the pictures above?
 The picture 1 is Ngoc Son temple in Hanoi. The picture 2 is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam in Hanoi. The picture 3 is the Independence Palace or the Reunification Palace in HCM City. The picture 4 is President Ho Chi Minh’s mausoleum in Hanoi.
2. Is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a historical place?
 Yes, of course. It is a famous historical and cultural site in Hanoi.
3. What do you know about this place?
 Actually, I only hear about its name. I don’t know anything about it. So let’s study it through the reading section in our textbook today.
VOCABULARY
Historical /hɪˈstɒrɪkl/ (a): thuộc về lịch sử
Cultural /ˈkʌltʃərəl/ (a): thuộc về văn hóa
Site /saɪt/ (n): di tích, địa danh
Originally /əˈrɪdʒənəli/ (adv): đầu tiên
Dynasty /ˈdɪnəsti/ (n): triều đại
Representative /ˌreprɪˈzentətɪv /(a): đại diện, tiêu biểu
Confucian /kənˈfjuːʃən/ (n): người theo đạo khổng
(a): thuộc về nho giáo
8. Behaviour /bɪˈheɪvjə(r)/ (n): hành vi, cách cư xử
9. Educate /ˈedʒukeɪt/ (v): giáo dục
VOCABULARY
10. Talent /ˈtælənt/ (n): nhân tài
(a): có tài
11. Memorialize /məˈmɔːriəlaɪz/ (v): tưởng nhớ
12. Brilliant /ˈbrɪliənt/ (a): xuất sắc
13. Scholar /ˈskɒlə(r)/ (n): học giả
14. Achievement /əˈtʃiːvmənt/ (n): thành tựu
15. Royal /ˈrɔɪəl/ (a): thuộc hoàng gia, triều đình
16. Engrave /ɪnˈɡreɪv/ (v): khắc, chạm
17. Stele (n, sing.): bia
Stelae (n, plural): những tấm bia
18. Giant /ˈdʒaɪənt/ (a): khổng lồ
VOCABULARY
19. Tortoise /ˈtɔːtəs/ (n): rùa
20. Existence /ɪɡˈzɪstəns/ (n): sự tồn tại
21. well-preserved /wel-prɪˈzɜːv/ (a): bảo tồn, gìn giữ tốt
22. Architecture /ˈɑːkɪtektʃə(r)/ (n): kiến trúc
23. Banyan /ˈbænjən/ (n): cây cổ thụ
24. Witness /ˈwɪtnəs/ (n): nhân chứng
(v): chứng kiến
25. Feudal /ˈfjuːdl/ (a): thuộc phong kiến
26. Flourish /ˈflʌrɪʃ/ (v): sum sê, xanh tốt
27. Pride /praɪd/ (n): niềm tự hào
Read the text about Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam and then do the tasks that follow.
1. Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a famous historical and culture site in Hanoi. Originally built in 1070 in the Ly dynasty, Van Mieu was representative of Confucian ways of thought and behaviour. Six years later, Quoc Tu Giam, the first university of Vietnam, was established on the grounds of Van Mieu. Between 1076 and 1779, Quoc Tu Giam educated thousands of talented men for the country.

2. In 1482, Van Mieu became a place to memorialize the most brilliant scholars of the nation. The names, places of birth and achievements of top students in royal examinations were engraved on stone stelae. These stelae, carried on the backs of giant tortoises, are still standing today and they attract great interest from visitors.

3. After more than 900 years of existence, Van Mieu is an example of well-preserved traditional Vietnamese architecture. The banyan trees in Van Mieu, which witnessed festivals and examinations during feudal times, continue to flourish. Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam is a site of national pride for Vietnamese people.

Task 1:Choses A, B, or C that best suits the meaning of the italicised word.
Van Mieu was originally built in 1070 in the Ly dynasty.
beautifully B. initially C. finally
2. It is representative of Confucian ways of thought and behaviour.
typical B. fond C. traditional
3. Van Mieu was a place to memorialize the most brilliant scholars of the nation.
ignore B. gather C. honor
4. The stone stelae were engraved with the names of the top students in royal examinations.
printed B. carved C. washed
5. The banyan trees in Van Mieu continue to flourish even now.
A. Slow down B. fall off C. grow well
Task 2: Decide whether the following statements are true (T) or false (F)
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AFTER YOU READ
Work in groups
Talk about Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam, using the suggestions below.
- Why is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a place of interest?
When and where were they built?
What were their function?
What is special about the stelae there?
Sample discussion

S1: Hey, everyone, let’s talk about Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam! Why is Van Mieu – Quoc Tu Giam a place of interest?
S2: I know. Because it is one of the famous historical and cultural sites in Vietnam.
S3: That’s it! When and where were they built?
S1: It was originally in 1070; 6 years later, Quoc Tu Giam was establishedon the grounds of Van Mieu.
S2: that’s right! So what were their functions?
S3: Quoc Tu Giam educated thousands of talented men for the country. Van Mieu is a place to honour the most brilliant scholars of the nation.
S1: But what is special about the stelae there?
S2: well, the stelae, carried on the backs of giant tortoises, were engraved with the names, places of birth and achievements of top students in royal examinations.
S3: that sounds great!